By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, Feb. 25 (PNA) — The independent minority bloc of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said they support President Benigno S. Aquino III until the Chief Executive finishes his term and makes a graceful exit by leaving a legacy.
BUHAY Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said they do not support any ouster move but want the President to address the people’s sentiments.
“We in the Independent bloc are not part of the ouster move. Rather, we want him (President) to finish his term and also address some issues which was taken for granted in the past days or weeks because of the Mamasapano fiasco,” Atienza told House reporters in a press conference.
He said the President also need to address issues like the looming power shortage, defective MRT/LRT trains, and fare increase on dilapidated PNR trains, among others.
Atienza also reiterated his call to his colleagues not to approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law without properly scrutinizing its constitutional infirmities.
ABAKADA Party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz echoed Atienza, saying the President can address other concerns like tuition fee hike, water and power hike and prices of basic commodities which remain high despite the downtrend of oil products in the international market.
“It is obvious that some of the oil companies are making huge profits at the expense of end consumers after reasoning that the reason of price hike is the dictate of international market,” Dela Cruz said in the press conference.
He said that once the President concentrate on these issues which is very near to the people’s stomach, the call for his ouster will fizzle out naturally.
“We are supporting the president. We want him to succeed and his success is also our success. We want him to step up and not to step down,” he stressed.
He also joined Atienza in calling on their colleagues in Congress to only support a BBL without constitutional weaknesses to avoid more problems in the future.
He reminded that Article XVI, Section 6 of the Constitution states that there is to be only one police force which shall be national in scope and civilian in character.
“No local government unit has ever been allowed to have their own local police force because this is unconstitutional and should not be allowed under BBL,” he said. (PNA)